Week 6 of college football continues and Thursday, we have a team trying to open their conference campaign the same way they ended it last.

The 5-0 South Florida Bulls look to open their Big East schedule this 2008 NCAA college football season the same way they closed last year’s conference slate, with a victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers. They meet Thursday night at Raymond James Stadium and I have a feeling we will have yet another good one.

The South Florida Bulls, ranked No.10, rallied to defeat then No.13 Kansas 37-34 last Sept. 12 thanks to the leadership of quarterback Matt Grothe, who threw 10 interceptions in his final six games as a sophomore last season and feels his team is better prepared to handle a high ranking this year.

Grothe is confident that their team is on the right track and said that they just need to play football and winning will just come as they play. Grothe leads the Big East in passing yards per game with 235.0 and touchdowns with eight.

Grothe threw for 259 yards and a touchdown against N.C. State, but the biggest star was a defense missing three starters from its front seven, including All-American lineman George Selvie.

The last time South Florida played the Pittsburgh Panthers, Grothe was the game’s leading rusher as Pittsburgh lost to USF in November at Heinz Field, running for 67 yards and a touchdown and going 17-for-23 for 159 yards.

Despite not having Selvie, the NCAA’s active career leader in tackles for loss, and senior linebacker Brouce Mompremier, the Bulls only allowed 26 yards on the ground and picked off the Wolfpack QB Harrison Beck three times.

Coach Jim Leavitt is hopeful George Selvie, who sat out with an injured ankle, will return against the Pittsburgh Panthers this Thursday. However, Brouce Mompremier is not expected to play after suffering a neck injury against Florida International.

The Bulls could certainly use Selvie as they look to limit Panthers tailback LeSean McCoy, the nation’s top freshman rusher last season. McCoy had seven 100-yard games in 2007, but had yet to record one this year through three games. McCoy managed just 55 yards on 18 carries, but had three touchdowns to go along with a game-high 83 yards receiving.

Can the South Florida Bulls beat the Pittsburgh Panthers? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

South Florida Bulls -14 (1.95)

Pittsburgh Panthers +14 (1.87)

Want more odds? Visit Bodog sportsbook for more college football betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

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